Spend Easter Weekend with the TSO and Helene Grimaud Tonight

For centuries, Easter has been Russia's most significant and most colourfully celebrated holiday. It represents not only a major Christian festival, but also a reminder of earlier traditions marking the arrival of Spring. Rimsky-Korsakov addressed both sides of this duality in his Russian Easter Festival Overture.

The radiant L'Ascension is one of Messiaen's earliest orchestral scores. Religion, specifically the Catholic faith, played a profound role in his life and art. In L'Ascension, the subject is Christ's ascension to heaven in the aftermath of his crucifixion and resurrection and Messiaen has attached a descriptive quotation from a sacred Christian text to each movement.

Pianist, author, wolf conservationist and the first woman to record both Brahms's Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, Hélène Grimaud has limitless passion for music and life! Brahms's First Piano Concerto is the work of a very young composer, but with a profundity and maturity which is truly startling, and Grimaud makes it uniquely her own.

The programme is conducted by Andrey Boreyko, one of the most dynamic conductors to emerge from Eastern Europe in recent years. He is currently Music Director of the Orchestre National de Belgique and the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi in San Sebastian, Spain.

About the TSO: Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada's most important cultural institutions recognized internationally as an outstanding orchestra. Currently celebrating his 10th season as Music Director, Peter Oundjian continues to lead the Orchestra with a commitment to innovative programming and audience development with performances that range from Masterworks to New Creations, Young People's Concerts to Pops, all showcasing the exceptional talents of the Orchestra along with a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. In addition to the concert season, the TSO serves the larger community with TSOUNDCHECK, the original under-35 ticket programme, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and through music education and outreach programmes which connect students with acclaimed curriculum-based programming.

EASTER WEEKEND WITH THE TSO
Grimaud Plays Brahms MasterWorks
Tonight, April 17 at 8:00pmSaturday, April 19 at 8:00pm
Andrey Boreyko, conductorHélène Grimaud, piano
Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival Overture Messiaen: L'AscensionBrahms: Piano Concerto No. 1
Pre-Concert Chat with Rick Phillips in the Lobby on April 17
Tickets: $33 - $145
Website: TSO.CATwitter: @TorontoSymphony
Facebook: Toronto Symphony Orchestra
YouTube: youtube.com/torontosymphony

All concerts at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. unless otherwise noted All artists, programmes, dates, prices, and chats are subject to change without notice.TSO ticket line: 416.598.3375; Chinese hotline: 416.593.0688. Online TSO.CA.